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The way I learned to train dogs from D.L. Walters was without an e-collar. But they handled, and lined well enough that both my first dogs were QAA. Even for CC'd dogs I prefer to do much more teaching with handling to de-cheat, than to just apply pressure. I just think that is fundamentally better quality training, and surely more humane. I use the e-collar to enforce commands they know. Even 'back in the day', Cotton Pershall said "If they can mark, and will do what you tell them, you don't need to worry what the test is." (or words to that affect)

My message to you, Jennifer, is that you can train your dogs to do good fieldwork without an e-collar. Is it the harder way? Yes, I think it is. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. And it doesn't reflect negatively upon you in any way because that's what you've chosen to do.

Evan

You being old enough to have learned from DL and Rex is really of no consequence Evan :-p